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What the law says

If a ‘not out’ decision is being reviewed, in order to report that the ball is hitting the stumps, the evidence provided by technology should show that the centre of the ball would have hit the stumps on any part of the middle stump ().

The ICC has made a slight but significant alteration to the 2.5m rule, the most controversial segment of its decision review system (DRS) used in this World Cup, to enable more consistent application by the umpires. The change to the DRS rule No. 3.3 – which expands the umpire’s scope for interpretation – follows its contrary usage in the first two weeks of the competition.An ICC spokesperson confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the umpires have “changed the protocol” in the clause to ensure a “consistency” of on-field umpires when using the DRS pertaining to not out lbw reviews.A directive has gone out from the ICC’s Umpires & Referees manager to all umpires that if an lbw appeal shows that even though there may be a distance between the stumps and the point of impact of 2.5m or greater, the on-field umpire can think of reversing the decision even if the replay shows that the ball is hitting “any part of the middle” stump.The altered rule came into application during an lbw appeal against Alex Cusack in the India v Ireland game•Getty Images

The previous rule required that the leg-before could be reversed – by the on-field umpire – only if the replay showed that the ball was hitting the middle stump dead centre. This change in the ‘protocol’ was brought into play in the India v Ireland match in Bangalore, when umpire Rod Tucker reversed his lbw decision against Alex Cusack off the bowling of Yuvraj Singh. Tucker was heard on the stump microphone asking third umpire Marais Erasmus to let him know whether the ball was hitting “any part of the middle stump.”The third umpire, it was confirmed, was also required to give the on-field umpire “all relevant information” during an lbw review and not merely specific pieces of information during the DRS process.Teams had also been informed of this alteration in the rule and Yuvraj said later that while he “did not understand the 2.5 rule much”, he knew it had been what he called “removed.” He said the current rule stated that if, “the ball is hitting the line, it’s out… I was just discussing it with Dhoni, so I took the referral.”The application of the same 2.5m rule had led to two contrasting reviews under the DRS last week, one involving Ian Bell – in England’s match against India – and the other the Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura against New Zealand. Both batsmen were struck well forward from the stumps but the not out decision against Bell’s was not overturned while Chigumbura was declared out.The 2.5m clause was included in the DRS rules following the expert view that the predictive path of the ball-tracker technology (in this case Hawk Eye) lost its accuracy when the distance between the point of impact and the stumps was greater than 2.5m.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, has said that he is confident about having a corruption-free World Cup, especially after the anti-corruption tribunal’s verdict that banned three Pakistan players on charges of spot-fixing.”I am confident for two reasons,” Lorgat told the . “The main one is that the vast majority of players are honest players. They do play the game in the spirit that it should be played. They are not seeking to make gains out of untoward means.”Secondly, we are alive to what could come to the fore in terms of corruption. We have measures in place, and people forget we had been tracking this long before the had broken the story.Lorgat said the ICC was having discussions at appropriate levels about whether gambling could be legalised on the sub-continent, where cricket has long been under the spectre of illegal bookies and betting. “I agree with the notion that if it is regulated, it is a lot better than if it is not regulated. We have made inquiries, and these are the things we are working towards.”Since the spot-fixing scandal broke last year, Lorgat said that the ICC had increased its anti-corruption staff, and were now “more vigilant around leads we pick up.”Lorgat has said that the punishments handed out were severe enough, and felt that it would deter players in future. “I think it would take someone very brave not to take heed of what has happened.”In legal terms, you have to be proportionate when you mete out punishment. We must distinguish between match-fixing and spot-fixing. This is a very experienced group of judges. They have enormous experience and expertise, and they are independent. They have applied their minds and decided on what is a proportionate sanction.”

Group A

Danish Kaneria took four wickets in HBL’s big win•Associated Press

Habib Bank Limited maintained their perfect start with their second successive win, a 155-run thumping of Karachi Dolphins in Rawalpindi. The match started badly for them as opener Imran Farhat fell for 1, but solid contributions from the rest of the top order and half-centuries from Aftab Alam and Hasan Raza pushed them to what looked a competitive 262. It proved much more than sufficient as Dolphins collapsed to 107 all out. Medium-pacer Fahad Masood did the early damage, taking three top-order wickets, before legspinner Danish Kaneria ripped out four wickets for 28 to confirm a big victory.In another one-sided match, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines crushed Islamabad Leopards by 109 runs at the Diamond Club ground in Islamabad. Opener Sohail Ahmed’s half-century guided SNGPL to a solid start but a slew of wickets left them wobbling at 157 for 5. The experienced Saleem Mughal stabilised the innings with a 55 that took them to 271. In response, Islamabad’s batsmen flopped with only opener Zeeshan Ali making it past 16. He went on to make 63, but hardly had any support as Islamabad subsided to 162 all out.The most competitive match in the group was the one between the table-toppers and the team at the bottom. Pakistan International Airlines kept a spotless record by picking up their third win in three matches, beating Rawalpindi Rams by 45 runs in Islamabad. Faisal Iqbal’s century was the centerpiece of PIA’s innings, with support from opener Agha Sabir’s 53 before a flurry of late hitting lifted PIA to 290. They seemed set for a huge victory when Rawalpindi slid to 61 for 4 but Rawalpindi’s middle-order put up some resistance, with Zahid Mansoor and Jamal Anwar helping them to 245 limiting the margin of defeat.

Group B

It was a match that was decided by the how the lower orders batted. Water and Power Development Authority‘s bowlers added some crucial runs while Multan Tigers‘ last five wickets collapsed for six runs to hand WAPDA a comfortable 77-run win at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Both innings had followed a similar pattern after Multan opted to field. WAPDA were struggling at 52 for 4 but Sohaib Maqsood launched a counter-attack, smashing 77 at more than a run-a-ball. After Maqsood fell caught behind, each of WAPDA’s last four batsmen made more than 10 to carry their side well past 200. Multan began poorly as well in their chase of 224, Kashif Raza ripping through the top order to leave them tottering at 39 for 3. Waqas Sharif did what Maqsood had done earlier, slamming eight fours in his 61 as Multan fought back. But Zulfiqar Babar nipped the recovery with three wickets, including that of Sharif. And Raza returned to clean up the tail as Multan were dismissed for 147 after having been 141 for 5 at one stage.Majid Jahangir’s maiden List A century was not enough to save Sialkot Stallions from losing to National Bank of Pakistan by 46 runs at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Jahangir and Shehzad Malik (67) had lifted Sialkot from a precarious position, almost doubling the score after they had slumped to 113 for 5 chasing a stiff 312. But their dismissals took the wind out of Sialkot’s sails, and they were soon bowled out for 265. National Bank’s Uzair-ul-Haq was the best bowler on both sides, taking 4 for 46. Half-centuries from Hammad Azam, Nasir Jamshed and Qaiser Abbas had earlier set up National Bank’s huge total. After opener Jamshed (75) had provided a solid platform, Azam (76 off 54) and Abbas (56 off 34) took the score beyond 300 in an unbeaten 114-run partnership for the fifth wicket.Half-centuries from Babar Azam and Shahid Yousuf and left-arm spinner Raza Hasan’s four wickets took Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to an emphatic 81-run victory against Faisalabad Wolves at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. The 158-run stand between 16-year old Azam (78) and Yousuf (76) formed the bulk of ZTBL’s score after they were inserted by Faisalabad. ZTBL were 219 for 2 at one stage, but left-arm spinner Hasan Mahmood took his best List A figures of 5 for 40 to restrict them to 269. It was young Raza’s turn to respond, and he grabbed 4 for 46 as Faisalabad lost regular wickets. All but two Faisalabad batsmen made double-digit scores, but none more than 33 as they limped to 188.

Wavell Hinds, the former West Indies batsman, has been named as captain of Jamaica’s team for next year’s West Indies Cricket Board Caribbean T20 Tournament. Hinds, 34, will fill the role in the absence of regular skipper Chris Gayle, who will be representing Western Australia at the Twenty20 Big Bash – the dates of which clash with the West Indian competition.Tamar Lambert, who captained Jamaica at the inaugural Caribbean T20 in July, has been dropped but fast bowler Jerome Taylor has recovered from injury and is set to make a return to cricket at the regional level. The one newcomer in the side is 22-year-old left-arm seamer Sheldon Cotterel.West Indies players Carlton Baugh, Andre Russell and Nikita Miller – who were part of the national squad on the recent tour to Sri Lanka – are also among the 14-man squad that will take part in the tournament from January 10 to 23 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua and Kensington Oval in Barbados.Allrounder Carlos Brathwaite is the only new face in the Barbados squad for the competition. Brathwaite, an opening batsman and medium-pacer, has been rewarded for consistent performance for Banks in the domestic Division 1 tournament. He will join his cousin Jonathan Carter, who was the second highest run-scorer in this year’s domestic Twenty20 competition, in the squad.The Bajans will be without experienced opening batsman Dale Richards, who is out with an injury, but they have however been bolstered by the inclusion of West Indies players Kemar Roach and Sulieman Benn. They will also have fast bowler Tino Best, who has played 26 games for West Indies, and allrounder Dwayne Smith to call upon.There were few surprises in Canada’s squad for the tournament with Ashish Bagai – their most accomplished batsman – set to captain. His presence can surely only bolster a side that was handed two comprehensive nine-wicket thrashings in the previous edition of the competition – from which Bagai was absent.Hiral Patel, the 19-year-old batsman who boasts an average of 42.66 in Twenty20 internationals, lends a touch of class to their middle order while Rizwan Cheema, who has hit 38 sixes in 29 international limited-overs games, adds much-needed firepower.Ugandan-born seamer Henry Osinde will lead the bowling attack and will be hoping for solid support from medium-pacer Harvir Baidwan, who has an enviable record in Twenty20s, and legspinner Balaji Rao, who represented India Youth in the mid-1990s and also turned out for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy.Canada’s training camp opens in Toronto on Boxing day and the team leaves for the Caribbean on January 5.Jamaica squad: Wavell Hinds (Captain), Xavier Marshall, Danza Hyatt, Marlon Samuels, Horace Miller, David Bernard, Carlton Baugh, Andre Russell, Jerome Taylor, Nikita Miller, Krishmar Santokie, Odean Brown, Shawn Findlay, Sheldon Cotterell.
Barbados squad: Ryan Hinds (capt), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Kirk Edwards, Alcindo Holder, Carlo Morris, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Javon Searles, Dwayne Smith, Kevin Stoute
Canada squad: Ashish Bagai (Capt), Harvir Baidwan, Khurram Chohan, Rizwan Cheema, Parth Desai, Tyson Gordon, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Jimmy Hansra, Nitish Kumar, Henry Osinde, Hiral Patel, Balaji Rao, Zubin Surkari, Hamza Tariq, Karl Whatham

Relief for a batsman is most often experienced when he plays a confidence-boosting knock after a lean patch. For Jacques Kallis, relief came when he scored a Test double-century because it was a first for him in over 15 years of playing international cricket.”I’m relieved at not having to answer the question anymore,” Kallis said at the end-of-day press conference in Centurion. He has been out between 150 and a double-century ten times in his career and there were always questions as to why he couldn’t reach the elusive figure. He no longer needs to answer them. “It’s a fantastic landmark and one that I have worked hard to achieve. It’s good to have ticked that box.”On reaching the milestone, Kallis played a mock golf shot and explained it was because he will now be granted membership to the elite Leopard Creek golf club in Mpumalanga. “Johan Rupert phoned me in Abu Dhabi to promise me life-time membership at Leopard Creek if I got a double-hundred, so he’s the first person I’m phoning now.” Rupert is a billionaire and the owner of the course, a beauty on the southern border of the Kruger National Park.Kallis was in an unusually chirpy mood after the innings and even commented on the peculiar subject of the sizeable crop of hair on his once receding hairline. “Too much bowling into the sun did that.” He went on to provide fellow balding people with some advice for re-growth. “Take a bit of beer and manure and rub it on your forehead.”Kallis’ knock was all the more impressive because it came against a highly-rated Indian side, in a contest billed as the clash between the world’s best two Test teams. “I probably would have taken it against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe but to have done it against the world’s best side is special.”The manner in which Kallis went about reaching the mark was so easy on the eye that it is puzzling why it took him so long to get there. It was expected that he would battle with a bit more nerves, but he remained the calm Kallis cricket-lovers have come to know and kept the butterflies firmly inside. After the first session on Saturday, he was on 182 and had to endure “probably the longest 40-minute lunch break of my life.”Luckily, he had a partner with the vision to guide him through to the double-ton. AB de Villiers smacked a century off 75 balls – the fastest in Test cricket by a South Africa batsman – in the morning and his positive attitude helped spur Kallis on. “It was fantastic and it took all the pressure off me. I could just knock the ball about. It was a privilege to watch it from the other end.”Kallis’ usually unruffled demeanour gave way to uncharacteristically emphatic celebration, which showed just how much the achievement meant to him. He stood savouring the moment for a long time and dedicated it to his late father, Henry, who passed away from lung cancer in 2003. “It would have been nice for him to be able to see it, but hopefully he’s watching it up there with my mom. I’ll have a beer with him tonight.” His father played a major role in influencing his career as a professional cricketer and his death has always been a private and sensitive matter for the batsman.

Tasmania 125 & 9 for 167 (Butterworth 44*, Watson 5-39) beat New South Wales 97 & 190 by 1 wicket
ScorecardLuke Butterworth and Adam Maher celebrate their win in front of a frustrated Doug Bollinger•Getty Images

Luke Butterworth swung Tasmania to a sensational one-wicket victory that was sealed with a six off Doug Bollinger at the SCG. In a match that swung as much as the ball over two-and-a-bit days, Butterworth and Adam Maher put on 31 in four overs after Shane Watson’s five-for seemed to set up the game for New South Wales.Maher was dropped by Nathan Hauritz at third slip with 12 still needed and Butterworth quickly sealed the success, finishing with a game-high 44. Bollinger was called to deliver the final over and was hit for three by Maher, before Butterworth picked up two to third man, a four to mid-on and then a six in the same direction. It ended a fine match for Butterworth, who took five wickets and top-scored in the first innings with 39.Tasmania began the day at 3 for 73, needing another 90 for victory, but they lost the captain George Bailey straight away, lbw to Trent Copeland. Copeland followed up to remove Mark Cosgrove and when Watson picked up Brady Jones (32) and James Faulkner the Tigers were in big trouble at 7 for 107.Jason Krejza added 12 and Shane Watson earned his fifth victim when Xavier Doherty failed to score. Watson had to be satisfied with 5 for 39 from 14 overs, while Copeland finished with 3 for 42 and nine wickets for the game. Hauritz did not add to his one over for the match as the fast bowlers were preferred, leaving him without an opportunity to gauge his form ahead of the first Test on Thursday.

Jonty Rhodes, the former South Africa batsman, will assist the Kenyan team in their preparations for the 2011 World Cup. Rhodes, who is widely regarded as one of the best fielders to have played the game, will work with the Kenya coach Eldine Baptiste during a three-week training camp in November, at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria.Rhodes, 41, played the last of his 52 Tests in 2000, though he continued to feature in South Africa’s one-day plans until 2003. After retiring, he briefly worked with Pakistan as a fielding consultant and was the fielding coach for the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.”We are delighted to have secured Jonty’s services to help the players in their preparation for the World Cup,” Cricket Kenya’s chief executive Tom Sears said. “Jonty has tremendous experience and is now one of the most innovative and highly sought after specialist coaches in world cricket, so this is a real coup for Cricket Kenya.”Initially we are looking at an intense period during our training camp in South Africa but we are hopeful we can get Jonty involved in our final few weeks of preparation in the new year. There is no doubt our players can learn a tremendous amount from him and his input can make a real difference to our overall performance.”

Faisal Iqbal, the 28-year-old batsman, has been named captain of the Pakistan A team for the tour of West Indies next month. He last played for Pakistan in the infamous Sydney Test against Australia at the start of the year, and leads a side with very little international experience. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Nawaz and opener Khurram Manzoor are the only others in the 15-man squad to have represented Pakistan in more than one match.Pakistan A take on West Indies A in two Twenty20s, three one-day matches and two four-day games in a series that starts on November 3.Squad: Khurram Manzoor, Umair Khan, Abid Ali, Faisal Iqbal (capt), Aamer Sajjad, Naveed Yasin, Hammad Azam, Yasir Shah, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali, Tabish Khan, Mohammad Rameez, Shan Masood

England 90 for 4 (Collingwood 21) beat Pakistan 89 (Bresnan 3-10) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsPakistan were dismissed for their lowest total in Twenty20 internationals•PA Photos

England’s Twenty20 cricketers were barely forced to break a sweat as they sauntered to a crushing six-wicket victory in Cardiff against a Pakistan side whose off-field woes appeared to have seeped out into the middle with them. Despite another slight wobble with the bat as England closed in on a record-equalling seventh T20I victory in a row, a dismal target of 90 never looked like being a challenge, as Eoin Morgan and Michael Yardy once again eased them over the line with six overs to spare.The victory wrapped up a 2-0 clean sweep of the Twenty20 series, and completed a subdued sojourn in South Wales for Pakistan, which started with further newspaper allegations ahead of Sunday’s opening fixture, and concluded this evening with their lowest ever total in the format, as Tim Bresnan led an excellent attacking bowling performance with 3 for 10 in 3.4 overs. In front of a county-standard attendance of 5,821, it was an anticlimactic spectacle in every sense. But at least the sunset was pretty.Although Pakistan this time batted first of their own volition, their innings started in an uncannily familiar fashion to Sunday’s first fixture. A loose first over from Ryan Sidebottom was swatted for 11 useful runs (one fewer than had been the case two days earlier), before Bresnan dismissed Kamran Akmal via a rash pull for the second game running. He struck with his second ball on Sunday, and his fourth today, but at 11 for 1, Pakistan’s innings had once again been robbed of its early momentum.The situation got steadily worse for Pakistan. Bresnan claimed his second wicket in five balls when Mohammad Yousuf flapped a well-directed bouncer to Bopara at deep square leg, and six balls later, Shahzaib Hasan was also suckered by the short ball, this time courtesy of Stuart Broad, who beat him for pace as he swished airily and snicked the thinnest of edges through to the keeper, Steven Davies.Broad then made it two in an over, as an anxious Shahid Afridi poked nervously at his first ball before top-edging his fourth to Morgan at midwicket. At 22 for 4 after five overs, Pakistan were already dealing with damage limitation.Mohammad Hafeez’s response was to drop anchor as if he was battling to save a Test match. He faced 19 of the next 21 deliveries of the innings, picking off five singles while Umar Akmal ticked impatiently at the other end of the pitch, and it came as little surprise when Umar beat that tally in one blow by mowing Graeme Swann straight back over his head for the first six of the series. He produced an identical blow in Swann’s next over, only to fall one delivery later, as Swann gave the ball extra air outside off stump, and a clueless Umar threw back his head to be bowled through the gate for 17.Hafeez’s torturous innings was ended by a sharp run-out as Sidebottom shied at the non-striker’s end from short fine leg, and two balls and a single later, Fawad Alam’s grim series was concluded by a first-ball duck, as he attempted to cut Swann off the back foot and edged instead to the keeper.Umar Gul produced the shot of the innings when he lifted a Broad slower ball over the fine leg boundary for six, but Razzaq was unable to find his range in a fitful performance. He finally struck his first boundary from his 19th delivery, as Sidebottom offered too much width from a low-toss, only for both men to fall from his next two deliveries. First to go was Razzaq, who top-edged a slower-ball bouncer to Yardy at slip, before Gul pumped a similar delivery to Bopara, running in from deep square leg.Shoaib Akhtar creamed Bresnan through the covers for a handsome four, but before the over was out, Bresnan had been rewarded for an impressive performance with his third and final wicket of the innings. A well-directed yorker took out the base of middle stump to leave England chasing a meagre 90 for victory.Their desire for a swift kill was showcased by Craig Kieswetter, who unfurled an audacious back-foot drive over extra cover for six as Umar Gul’s first over was clattered for 19. However, both he and Steven Davies fell in consecutive deliveries in Shoaib’s subsequent over, and thereafter England opted for a safety-first approach to their run-chase.The spin of Saeed Ajmal and Afridi claimed a wicket apiece after Paul Collingwood and Bopara had knocked off a third of the target in seven overs, but it was once again Morgan’s matchless repertoire that put the contest beyond doubt. Three fours in 14 balls, all of them from the spinners, injected some late oomph to the innings, before Yardy sealed the deal with an all-run four to deep cover

Leicestershire captain, Matthew Hoggard, has demanded the immediate removal of the club’s chairman, Neil Davidson.Hoggard and the club’s director of cricket, Tim Boon, have written a letter to the board of Leicestershire demanding that Davidson either resigns or is dismissed. Cricinfo understands the letter has the support of all Leicestershire players, the groundstaff and most of the club’s administrative staff. Former chief executive, Mike Turner, the man who has done more for Leicestershire cricket than anyone over the last half-century, is also understood to be supportive.Hoggard and Boon allege that Davidson has interfered in cricket matters at the club. It is also alleged that Davidson’s somewhat robust style of management has intimidated staff and made the club unattractive to new players. There are growing concerns over the financial state of the club, too. Leicestershire have declared losses in six of the last seven years.If Davidson refuses to go, the players are considering some sort of on-field protest during the championship match against Surrey at Grace Road that starts on Tuesday. Cricinfo understands that Hoggard and co. have consulted both the ECB and the PCA (the players’ union) over such a gesture.The key episode which sparked this was the departure of the chief executive, David Smith. A former batsman with Warwickshire (he’s a brother of the former Warwickshire allrounder, Paul Smith), he went on to enjoy a highly successful career in business before returning to cricket.Inheriting a troubled club at Grace Road, he not only weaned the club away from their reliance on Kolpak registrations, but returned the club to profitability. In the current economic environment, that’s no mean achievement. He also sits on the ECB’s cricket committee. Smith and Davidson fell out, however. Smith felt that Davidson was interfering in the selection of the side – e-mails that have leaked out from the club suggest he has a point – and Smith tendered his resignation. He subsequently initiated legal action against the club, claiming constructive dismissal.Understandably, this alarmed a portion of the membership. As a result, a couple of concerned members collected the requisite number of signatures (club rules dictate that it must be a minimum 5% of the membership) on a petition calling for a special general meeting. At it they intended to call a vote of no confidence in Davidson and the Leicestershire board.Davidson denied their request, however, citing a couple of legal technicalities – an approach that has done nothing to appease angry members. Firstly he said that the last three pages of the petition did not contain the resolutions (the inference being that people did not know what they were signing) and secondly he said the petition should have been handed to the company secretary, whose office is in Nottingham, rather than to the offices at Grace Road.”What is happening here at the moment sets an extremely dangerous precedent,” said Davidson in a statement. “No cricket club can allow itself to be held to ransom by its coach, captain and players. The board is elected by the members and it is they who ultimately control the club.”Davidson was appointed chairman at the end of 2003. Since then membership has dropped from around 5,000 to around 1,460, while Smith was the sixth chief executive to leave the club under Davidson’s chairmanship. Hoggard, the former England and Yorkshire swing bowler, joined Leicestershire as captain before the start of the current season.